The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t meet with Vanderbilt guard Darius Garland at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic. The Cavs have the fifth overall pick in the NBA Draft, which is on June 20.
A report came out on Wednesday stating Garland has already left the combine. He most likely got a promise from a lottery team, with one rumor suggesting it was the Phoenix Suns.
The Cavs finished with the second-worst record in the NBA this season. They hired Michigan head coach John Beilein on May 13.
The New Orleans Pelicans have the first overall pick and will select Duke star Zion Williamson. The Memphis Grizzlies are widely expected to take Murray State point guard Ja Morant with the second pick, and the New York Knicks will most likely select Duke forward RJ Barrett with the third pick.
That means the Los Angeles Lakers might select Garland with the fourth pick. The Cavs could take Duke’s Cam Reddish, Virginia’s De’Andre Hunter or Texas Tech’s Jarrett Culver with the fifth pick.
The Cavs roster is headlined by Kevin Love, Collin Sexton, Cedi Osman and Larry Nance Jr. The development of Sexton, Osman and Nance is the most important thing for the franchise moving forward since they are all 26 and younger.
